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Frito Chicken Casserole

This chicken casserole topped with chili cheese Fritos is cheesy, crunchy, colorful, loaded with flavor, and the ultimate comfort food. Better yet, the prep only dirties up one pot. Serve with salsa, sour cream, and chopped cilantro if you like.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 4508.7 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Saucepan For preparing the chicken mixture.
  • 1 9x13 inch Casserole Dish For baking the casserole.
  • 1 Cutting Board For chopping onion and cilantro.
  • 1 Chef's knife For preparing vegetables.
  • 1 Spatula or Mixing Spoon For stirring and layering.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 4 cups cubed cooked chicken breast
  • 1 15.25 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 15.2 ounce can corn, drained
  • 1 10.5 ounce can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 10 ounce can diced tomatoes and green chiles (such as RO*TEL®), undrained
  • 1 4 ounce can chopped green chilies
  • 1 4 ounce package cream cheese
  • ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
  • 1 10 ounce bag chili and cheese flavored corn chips (such as Fritos® Chili Cheese® Corn Chips)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  • Add chicken, beans, corn, cream of chicken soup, tomatoes and chiles (with juice), green chiles, cream cheese, and cilantro. Cook until cream cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.
  • Spread out 1/3 of the chips on the bottom of a 9x13 inch rectangular casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of the chicken mixture. Top chicken mixture with 1/3 of shredded Cheddar cheese. Repeat the layer. Top the 2nd layer with remaining 1/3 of the chips and remaining 1/3 of Cheddar cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until cheese has melted and is lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, cover, and let sit for 30 minutes so it can set before cutting into squares. SoupLovingNicole

Notes

To maintain the signature crunch of the Fritos, consider adding the final layer of chips only for the last 10-15 minutes of baking, allowing them to warm and crisp without becoming soggy. For an elevated flavor profile, use a good quality unsalted butter and consider adding a teaspoon of smoked paprika or a dash of chili powder to the chicken mixture for extra depth. Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened before adding to the saucepan for smooth incorporation. The 30-minute resting period after baking is crucial for the casserole to set properly, making it easier to portion and preventing it from falling apart. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro, a dollop of sour cream, and your favorite salsa for a vibrant finish and balanced flavors.